THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
GRADUATE BOARD
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Information Booklet
(Produced by Research Student Administration for use by staff involved in considering the
admission of research students)
PLEASE NOTE, THIS DOCUMENT IS PLACED ON THE RESEARCH STUDENT
ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE AND WILL BE REGULARLY UPDATED ON THAT SITE.
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English language information
(Produced by Research Student Administration for use by staff involved in considering
research study applications)
Contents
Section
Page
Minimum English language requirements for research study
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3
Requirements for split-site applicants
2
4
The University English Language Test (UELT)
3
4
Faculties Schools and Programmes with a higher English
language requirement
4
5
Cases where applicants do not need to provide separate
evidence of their level of English
5
6
Other English language qualifications which are acceptable
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7
English language qualifications for EU applicants
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8
Qualifications which are not acceptable
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1. Minimum English language requirements for admission to research study
The following standards have been approved on a University wide basis by the Graduate Board
on the recommendation of its Programmes of Study and Audit Group. This policy (which indicates
a required minimum level of English language across the institution) complies with the QAA Code
of Practice for Postgraduate Research Programmes (September 2004) and also meets UK Border
Agency English Language standards in respect of applying for a Tier 4 General Student Visa.
The Graduate Board may, however, review the University requirements from time to time.
IELTS and TOEFL only recognise test results as valid for a period of up to 2 years after the date
of the examination.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
IELTS is internationally recognised and is widely available to take throughout the world at frequent
intervals. It covers all four language skills and is considered to be a comprehensive English
language test.
University minimum requirement:
Overall: 6.0
Listening: 5.5
Reading: 5.5
Speaking: 5.5
Writing: 5.5
More information about IELTS is available from www.ielts.org
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
TOEFL measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand North
American English, as used in College and University settings.
TOEFL measures English language proficiency in reading, listening and writing and is available in
most regions of the world.
University minimum requirement
Internet Based TOEFL (iBT): Overall 87, with not less than 21 in Listening, 21 in Writing, 22 in
Reading and 23 in Speaking
More information about TOEFL is available from http://www.ets.org/toefl/
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2. Requirements for split-site applicants
For split-site applicants the minimum English language requirement is as follows:
IELTS
Overall 6.5, with at not less than 6.0 in any individual skill
Internet based TOEFL (iBT)
Overall 94, with not less than 21 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
3. The University English Language Test (UELT)
All students whose first language is not English must take the University English language test
within one month of registration to identify whether any additional support is needed. Students
who achieve 60% or above are normally considered to require little or no extra support, although
they can seek help from the Language Centre if they feel they need it.
Students scoring below 60% will be required to take English language classes as recommended
by the Language Centre.
Any student who scores between 30% and 45% will be required to re-take the test every four
months so that their progress can be monitored. The School will be expected to provide a report
regarding the student’s level of English at the point at which they transfer to a definite degree
category.
Any student who scores below 30% will have their case referred to a member of the Programmes
of Study and Audit Group. They will decide on appropriate action to be taken to ensure that the
student is not disadvantaged by their level of English.
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Faculties, Schools and Programmes with a higher English language requirement.
A School or Faculty can raise the required minimum level of English above the University
minimum but cannot lower it.
The minimum University language requirement is IELTS band score 6.0 (with not less than 5.5 in
any skill area ) or internet based TOEFL (iBT) 87 (with not less than 21 in Listening, 21 in Writing,
22 in Reading and 23 in Speaking)
A higher level of English of IELTS Band Score 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in any skill area) or
Internet Based TOEFL 94 (with not less than 21 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and
24 in Writing) is required in the following Schools and Faculties:
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Institute of Communications Studies
School of Design
School of Education
School of English
School of Food Science and Nutrition (see exception below)
School of History
Institute of Medieval Studies
School of Modern Languages and Cultures
School of Music
School of Performance and Cultural Industries
School of Politics and International Studies
School of Sociology and Social Policy
Leeds University Business School require IELTS Band Score 7.0 (with not less than 6.0 in any
skill area) or Internet Based TOEFL 100 (with not less than 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 24 in
Speaking and 25 in Writing).
The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies require IELTS Band Score 6.5
(with not less than 7.0 in writing and not less than 6.0 in any other skill area) or Internet based
TOEFL 94 (with not less than 21 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing).
The School of Law require IELTS (Academic) Band Score 6.5 (with not less than 6.5 in Listening
and Reading and not less than 6.0 in Writing and Speaking) or Internet Based TOEFL 100 (with
not less than 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 24 in Speaking and 25 in Writing).
Programmes in Nutritional Epidemiology within the School of Food Science and Nutrition
require IELTS band score 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in any skill area) or Internet based TOEFL
100 (with not less than 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading and Speaking, and 25 in Writing).
For the Professional Doctorate and the Integrated degree of PhD and MSc in Clinical
Dentistry in the Leeds Dental Institute the requirement is IELTS band score 7.0 (with not less
than 6.5 in any skill area) or Internet based TOEFL 100 (with not less than 22 in Listening, 24 in
Reading and Speaking, and 25 in Writing).
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5. Cases where students do not need provide separate evidence of their level of English
In most cases, applicants who have recently been educated up to first degree level in the
following countries will be regarded as having fulfilled the University’s English language
requirements:
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Australia
Cameroon (in some instances, but this should be checked with Research Student
Administration)
Canada
Caribbean States where English is the first language
Ghana
Ireland
Kenya
Malawi
Malta
New Zealand
Nigeria (in some instances, but this should be checked with Research Student
Administration)
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States of America
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Other countries where English is the first language – please contact Research Student
Administration for confirmation
If an applicant's first language is not English but they have successfully completed a first degree
in one of the above countries (where English is the first language, used as the medium of
instruction throughout the education system), they will be regarded as having met the English
language requirement. (For example a student from Thailand who has a Bachelors degree from
Australia).
Experience has suggested that the University should be very wary about accepting that English
language requirements can be met by studying for a qualification in English in countries where
English is not the first language.
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6. Other qualifications which may be acceptable
For Schools that require applicants to meet the University minimum English language requirement
the following may also be accepted, if the applicant has taken the test recently:

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations: Certificate of Proficiency in English: grades A C
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University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations: Certificate in Advanced English: grades A - C
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City & Guilds Pitman Qualifications English for Speakers of Other Languages: a pass at
Expert (or the Higher Mastery) Level in both the ESOL and Spoken ESOL examinations
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Pearson Test of English Academic: an overall score of 59, with not less than 59 in any of the
four skills
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University of Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language: grades A - C
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Malaysian Certificate of Education: English language at Ordinary level if designated 121 (not
322 or 122): grades 1 - 6
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Hong Kong Examinations Authority Use of English: grades A - C
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Hong Kong Examinations Authority Certificate of Education in English language Syllabus B
(Ordinary): grades A - C
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Cambridge Overseas School Certificate in English language: grades 1 - 6
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Singapore/Cambridge GCE O level in English language: grades 1 - 6
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70% or higher in English in the All-India Senior School Certificate at Standard XII, together
with use of English as the medium of instruction at school
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Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English Examination at level III
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7. English language qualifications for applicants from the EU (who do not need a visa to
come to the UK)
For Schools that require applicants to meet the University minimum English language requirement
the following can also be accepted, if the applicant has taken the test recently:
TOEIC (Test of English as an International Language) may be used for applicants who come
from a country where a European language is the official language, in cases where no other
recognised test has been taken and the School accepts the limitations of the test. Only listening
and reading skills are tested and the test content is job related rather than academic. The
minimum requirement on TOEIC is: 880 with not less than 480 in reading and 395 in listening.
European High School Certificates as follows:
Denmark:
8 or higher (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) in English in the Højere Forberedelseseksamen
Finland:
4 or higher (5, 6) in English in the Ylioppilastutkinto/studentexamen
Germany:
2 or higher (1) in English in the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife/ Abitur
Netherlands:
7.5 or higher (8, 9, 10) in English in the Voorberidend Wetenschappe Onderwijs
Norway:
4 or higher (5, 6) in English in the Vitnemal
Sweden:
3/Godkänd or higher (4 /Väl Godkänd, 5/Mycket Väl Godkänd) in English in the
Avgangsbetyg
Ireland –
Irish Leaving Certificate – Grade C or above in Ordinary Level English
It may be possible to accept other European English language qualifications in cases where there
is valid and reliable evidence that the applicant has reached the level of C1 on the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Other qualifications will be considered following advice from the Language Centre and, if
appropriate, Research Student Administration will seek approval from the Programmes of Study
and Audit Group.
8. Qualifications which are not acceptable
UCLES/Cambridge First Certificate in English
UCLES/Cambridge ESOL Preliminary English Test
"Institutional” TOEFL. These tests tend to be organised within some Universities, mainly in
Asia, and rely on past examination papers.
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RDSO/JYF/student records March 2012